City’s Use of Money along Milwaukee River Should be Questioned

The Milwaukee River is experiencing a new vitality as a main artery of the heart of the city. The one-mile stretch of Commerce Street and Riverboat Road traces its importance all the way back to Byron Kilbourn, one of Milwaukee’s founding fathers. This segment of city neighborhoods is gaining strength as one of the most affluent. As a consequence, this piece of real estate is generating many “new tax dollars.” Some of these tax dollars are being spent responsibly and then there are expenditures that are questionable if not suspect. Let’s list a few:

1. New roads and lighting. Certainly needed for a safe city.
2. New boathouse for the rowing club. Looks great!
3. An observation deck coming out of the side of Reservoir (Kilbourn) Park. Looks expensive and hazardous.
4. A new bike path along the road. A great idea to help residents stay in shape. However, it looks like it was planned by a bureaucrat that won’t use it. He or she could use some tips on safety planning.
5. Underground utilities along Commerce Street. Certainly a mark of a city concerned with good looks.
6. High-tension utility poles along Riverboat Road. Apparently a deliberate plan by bureaucrats to ruin one of the more scenic looks of the river.
7. Last and hardly least, another bridge over the Holton Street span of the river. “Not necessary,” to quote one of its main proponents. “Too costly,” to quote one of the engineers.

In little more than a city mile, we observe several questions on how city officials and bureaucrats are spending money. Our roots go back to practically the origins of this corner of the city. We feel entitled to know why so many of the above improvements to this area are designed to enhance it, and why the ugly utility poles directly in front of our residents are intended to mar it. It certainly can’t be a matter of “finances.” The city has already stated publicly (Journal Sentinel article January 21, 2004) that it has $2.3 million to build a bridge it doesn’t need. To put the power underground for Riverboat Road would cost a mere fraction. We would like some straight-forward answers.

Earl and Delores Lazen
Walt Chowanec
Riverboat Road

EDITOR’S NOTE: Chowanec is an owner of the Melanec’s Wheelhouse property.